Frequently Asked Questions
About The KunstlerCast Book

Q: Where and when can I buy the KunstlerCast book?

A: The KunstlerCast book (paperback) is available through major and independent booksellers in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and elswere. A limited number of books will be available before then via the purchase links on the KunstlerCast website.

A: The KunstlerCast book (New Society Publishers, Nov. 2011) is a book-length conversation between author James Howard Kunstler and author/interviewer Duncan Crary. For four years, Kunstler and Crary met in person to record their ongoing conversations (totaling more than 150 hours) about suburbia, sprawl, car-dependence, cities, peak oil, American culture and many other topics for a weekly audio podcast (also called “The KunstlerCast”). Their ongoing dialogue revisited and updated many of the major ideas contained in Kunstler’s body of work, while exploring many additional topics as well. The KunstlerCast book presents the best of those conversations in a highly readable, organized, indexed form. You can peek inside the book using Amazon’s Look Inside feature.

Q: Is the KunstlerCast book just a collection of transcripts from the podcast?

A: No. While the bulk of the KunstlerCast book is derived from verbatim transcripts of the original podcast series, it is an edited reconstruction of hundreds of conversations that were originally released on the podcast series. These original conversations have been re-ordered, categorized, and spliced together to create a book-length dialogue. The main body of the book is formatted by chapter and subsection, with topics unfolding in a logical order. The text is primarily formatted in two columns in a highly readable Q&A format. Attractive text boxes with “Kunstler Quotes” from various podcast installments are interspersed throughout the book, which includes end notes and an index. The book also includes an original prologue, introduction and conclusion by author Duncan Crary and nine original illustrations by artist Ken Avidor.

Q: I’ve listened to every episode of the KunstlerCast podcast since the beginning. Why should I buy the book?

A: There are many reasons why you may wish to buy a copy of the KunstlerCast book. It’s a pretty great little book to add to your collection or to display on your coffee table. And purchasing a copy is way for you to support all the free entertainment (and hopefully enlightenment) you’ve received by listening to the podcast throughout the years. It’s a great souvenir to remember all the good times you’ve had listening to the show. It’s an easily searchable resource for you to consult during conversations, spirited debates, while writing blog posts, etc. when you want to be able to find that great quote you heard on the podcast. It also makes a great gift to give to others who may not be familiar with James Howard Kunstler or the KunstlerCast. It’s a great conversation starter when you’re reading it in public, too.

Q: I’ve already read all of James Howard Kunstler’s books. What’s in the KunstlerCast book that I haven’t already read or heard?

A: There’s a lot about the KunstlerCast book that’s entirely new. The most striking element of the book is probably the inter-generational dynamic between James Howard Kunstler and interviewer Duncan Crary. When their discussions began, Kunstler was 58, and Crary was 28 — this gives the book a underlying tone of one generation passing along it’s wisdom to the next generation. During their conversations, major world events transpired — such as the housing bubble collapse and the global economic crisis — which flavored their dialogue and provided new insight to the arguments Kunstler has made against suburbia and for urban revitalization. Some of their conversations about American culture (tattoos, hip hop costuming, technology, etc.) are entirely original, while other conversations clarify and put a finer point on previous statements and arguments that Kunstler has made in the past.

Q: Who drew the artwork for the KunstlerCast book?

A: Minneapolis artist Ken Avidor drew the artwork on the book cover and the illustrations inside the book.

Q: What are the physical attributes of this book?

A: The KunstlerCast book is a 320 page paperback that is a nifty size at 6 in. × 6 in. The interior pages are printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) acid-free paper that is 100% post-consumer recycled (100% old growth forest-free), processed chlorine free, and printed with vegetable-based, low-VOC inks. The colorful, glossy cover is produced using FSC stock. The book publisher, New Society Publishers, also works to reduce its carbon footprint, and purchases carbon offsets based on an annual audit to ensure a carbon neutral footprint. For more information, visit: newsociety.com.

Q: But what does the book actually look like?

A: If you could make a book out of Cheeze Doodles (the favorite party snack food of KunstlerCast fans) this is what it would look like: bright orange, bite size, and sure to leave a tasty residue on the minds of all who touch it. Seriously. Have a look at these photos of the book in action.

Q: Where can booksellers order the KunstlerCast?

A: Booksellers who are interested in carrying The KunstlerCast: Conversations with James Howard Kunstler…the tragic comedy of suburban sprawl, by Duncan Crary [ISBN: 9780865716933], may order from Consortium Book Sales* 7 distribution, 612.746.2619 (more info).

Q: Where can professors request an “exam copy” of The KunstlerCast book?

A: Professors can request an “exam copy” or a “desk copy” of The KunstlerCast book through Perseus Academic.

Q: Can I buy KunstlerCast t-shirts or other merchandise?

A: KunstlerCast t-shirts, coffee mugs and other merchandise will be available via CafePress in the near future. Please check the website for more information.

“For those of you wanting a good overview of Kunstler’s thinking and for those of you that want to share JHK with others but may fear being embarrassed by the sometimes ‘salty’ language he can use, this book is a great tool. The format is, by design, conversational. You can digest it in small bites or in large pieces. And the Kunstler world through Duncan’s eyes is not necessarily sanitized, but it is communicated in a way that I think will reach a broader audience.”

“The 320-page New Society Publishers offering was just released in paperback and is based on four years of weekly Kunstler riffs recorded by podcasting journalist Duncan Crary. In his introduction to the book, Crary professes to be merely a host, and sometimes a Kunstler foil, but the two upstate New Yorkers really are kindred intellects.”